Straight Off the Top at Milford's Annual Bug & Bud Festival

Straight Off the Top jazz band performing at yesterday's 7th Annual Bug & Bud Festival.

Calling All Fine Artists, Artisans and Musicians!

Downtown Milford Inc. of Milford, DE is proud to bring back the fun and successful Riverwalk Arts & Jazz outdoors summer fine arts series! After a very snowy winter, the first day of this exciting exhibition will soon be here. Riverwalk Arts & Jazz is looking for musicians, poets, fine artists/artisans and performers to participate sell their work and showcase their talents! This event will be held the fourth Saturday of each month beginning May 22nd and running through September. Each event will be from 11:00 am- 8:00 pm, music will continue until 9:00pm. Fine artists, artisans and performers will exhibit and perform throughout the businesses, streets and Riverwalk of beautiful, historic Milford, Delaware.

Entries are subject to jury so interested artists should submit audio or visual samples of their work, either digitally via email, to dmi@downtownmilford.org, or CD format by mail to Riverwalk Arts & Jazz, c/o DMI, 7 South Washington St., Milford, DE 19963, no later than May 1st. Artists can pick up registration forms at Angelucci Fine Woodwork & Stained Glass Gallery, 7 Park Ave., Milford or download a form by clicking here. You may also call DMI (302) 839-1180 to request a form by mail.

For more information on Riverwalk Arts & Jazz visit: http://www.downtownmilford.org/riverwalk_arts_jazz.html

Downtown Milford Welcomes New Executive Director & Assistant to the Executive Director

Downtown Milford would like to welcome its new Executive Director, Lorraine Dion. Lorraine was the first to be a Nationally Certified Main Street Manager in the State of Delaware. She has over 22 years of experience starting and working with a variety of downtown programs and initiatives. She has worked successfully in the Dover Main Street Program and more recently, the Middletown Main Street Program. DMI is thrilled to have such an experienced Director join our organization. Welcome Lorraine!

In addition, Downtown Milford, Inc would also like to welcome Elizabeth Purcell as its new Assistant to the Executive Director. Elizabeth is a graduate of University of Delaware and was born and raised in Milford. She has most recenlty served as an Americorps VISTA member at the Delaware Economic Development Office. Elizabeth is honored to have the opportunity to give back to her hometown.

This Place Matters

Let your community know "What places in Milford Matter to you!"

Suppose someone approached you on the streets of Milford and asked you the simple question, “What places in Milford matter to you?” How would you answer? Would you choose a place that is a regular part of your life, such as a neighborhood home, store, or public building? Maybe you would choose a place where you have shared special moments, like a church, or restaurant, or even a shady tree beside the river. Perhaps it would simply be a unique building that brings a smile of admiration to your face when you pass by.

Your own answer to this question is exactly what Downtown Milford Incorporated (DMI) wants to know. DMI is launching its own version of a national campaign, entitled “This Place Matters”. Started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, “This Place Matters” is a movement which aims to help people across the country to celebrate the places that make their towns special and better places to live.

To be a part of "This Place Matters" simply:

• First, pick up a “This Place Matters” sign from the DMI office across from the library at 7 South Washington Street. Signs also will available at the DMI Information Booth at the Bug & Bud Festival on April 24^th, the monthly Downtown Jazz & Arts Festival, and the Milford Farmer’s Market throughout the spring and summer.

• Next, you place the sign in front of a building or place in Milford that matters to you.

• You then take a photograph and deliver it in person to the DMI office or by email (dmi@downtownmilford.org). We encourage people to pose in their own photos, as people make the pictures more interesting. We also would appreciate a brief statement as to WHY the place matters to you.

DMI members and staff intend to select as many photos as possible for display. The initial display will be in the window of 23 North Walnut Street. The goal is to gather a diverse collection, incorporating as many unique perspectives as possible on the statement, “This Place Matters”. The Chronicle will join the program by printing photographs throughout the year.

Local Physician and DMI board member Mitch Edmondson is leading the effort to make “This Place Matters” a success in Milford. According to Dr. Edmondson, the Milford version of “This Place Matters” has an historical precedent. “When we started planning this project, several members recalled that many historical photographs in the collection of the Milford Historical Society featured a Milford resident who posed in his own pictures. This discussion led us to local historian David Kenton, who was able to confirm the identity of this photographer, Mr. Andrew Komoroski. Mr. Komoroski was a Polish immigrant, whose family arrived in Milford in 1895. He became the most prolific photographer of Milford scenes between 1910 and 1935. Mr. Kenton and the Milford Historical Society provided us with digital versions of many of Mr. Komoroski’s photographs. We are enlarging them and giving them their own prominent display, right beside our contemporary photographs. We hope to inspire our own Andrew Komoroskis of the twenty-first Century!”

So start looking closely at the places that surround you. Perhaps Milford’s new slogan, “Milford – River Town, Art Town, Home Town” can serve as inspiration. What places would leave Milford a less interesting or inviting place if they did not exist? What places make Milford…Milford? Pull out those cameras and show the rest of our community that “This Place Matters”.

For more information, contact the Downtown Milford, Inc. office at 302-839-1180.

7th Annual Bug & Bud Festival

Ladybug Parade, Ladybug Paddle Boats & MUCH MORE!

On, Saturday, April 24, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., the City of Milford Parks and Recreation Department & Downtown Milford, Inc. invite you to join the fun at the 7th Annual Bug & Bud Festival, presented by festival title sponsor Wilmington Trust, along the Mispillion RiverWalk in historic downtown Milford, Delaware.

Festival highlights are the traditional ladybug walking parade with prizes for best “ladybug” and “tree” costumes, diverse musical entertainment throughout the day such as Soul Selby, the Nanticoke Indian Association and the fifty-member Milford Community Band as well as more than 100 plus arts and crafts vendors, a Kid’s Korner, remote control boats, a youth bass fishing contest, an art show, and “green-themed” and nature related hands-on activities including seedling tree giveaways – just to name a few!

Back by popular demand are “ladybug decorated” paddle boat rides and the FREE 5:00 p.m. jazz concert. This year’s concert performers are the highly acclaimed jazz group Straight Off The Top sponsored by Citizens Bank.

RAIN or SHINE and FREE of charge, you won’t want to miss this “over-the-top” outdoor festival! Come listen to some great music, eat some great food, cruise in a lady bug paddle boat, don your lady bug costume for the parade, shop local and most important of all - “think ladybug!”

For more information, contact the Downtown Milford, Inc. office at 302-839-1180 or visit www.downtownmilford.org and follow the festival links.